Technics SA 800 Vintage Receiver Review - Stereo Hi-Fi
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- Опубліковано 17 сер 2023
- Watch this review of the Technics SA-800, just one step below the SA-1000, the largest vintage receiver ever made at 300 watts!
I am a long time collector of vintage stereo gear like receivers, speakers, amps, turntables and cassette decks from brands like McIntosh, Sansui, Pioneer, Yamaha, Klipsch, JBL, Marantz and many others. Be sure to subscribe so as not to miss future videos.
Email: stereoniche@gmail.com
Video: • Technics SA 800 Vintag...
The HiFi store I worked for from 1979 to 82 regularly made sure the Technics SA 300, SA 500, and SA700 receivers were readily in stock, they were very popular and always an easy sell. They looked great, sounded good enough, and were reasonably priced.
Thanks for another enjoyable video :_)
I have the earlier SA-5570. Weighs about four pounds more than the 700 (only two pounds lighter than the 800) but is only 85 watts x 2. But those 85 watts sound more like 100 watts. They're a very powerful 85.
Very nice looking receiver. A keeper, in the collection. I almost scored an SA-1000 years ago, for a fantastic price, but the seller had second thoughts and decided not to sell. Too bad, that would have been something to have. The POWER KING, lol.
Picked up one today in the original box at an estate sale. Looking forward to listening to it this weekend.
The Luxman R series made from 1976-79 also had LED power meters. The R-1120 was the top of the line and sold for $995 with 120 watts per channel.
Seems that vintage Technics receivers fly under the radar these days. I remember the 50 series and this 100 series. They were good components. When we were goin' steady I got my wife a "budget" hifi system for Xmas 1981. It consisted of an SA-80 receiver, Akai CSm01a tape deck and Synergistics S12B speakers for around $300. That little SA-80 did impress me as a swell basic receiver. There was also the SA-101@ 18wps. The most powerful receiver (from the receiver wars) I recall was the Hitachi SR-2004 rated at 200wpc with 3dB's headroom giving it short term 400wpc. Nice to see Technics being "talked up" on youtube. Neat video. I like your Large Advents and what looks like a Teac X-3 open reel deck. I got the X-3 in 1982.
Great receivers, although they need annual pots cleaning that is a PITA to do!
I have one that I bought new from Crazy Eddie's in NYC. Its pushing a pair of Cerwin-Vega 12 TR's. I also have the Technics turntable. There is not a mark or blemish on any of them. I did change the incandescent bulbs to LED. I was able to apply some Deoxit through the front panel opening of the Tape Monitor switches and that seemed to work just fine. Nice review!
Picked up an SA-500A (black face - international version) recently. It's a great looking unit! It's my understanding the SA-500 and up utilized discrete transistors while the SA-400 and below utilized Darlington power packs.
Interesting technical details. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for bringing us another great piece of audio history. When my ship was in Japan in 1978 the Technics were a big favorite among my ship mates. I think it was the LED power level indicators. About 15 years ago I bought an SA 200 on ebay. It arrived badly bent and with the fuses blown. I got my money back, twisted the frame into shape, had to trim some metal off to get the face plate to sit flush and it worked great. The face plate was mint at least. I wish I had kept it.
They are fairly hard to find from my experience.
Nice review! Seeing this review brings back a lot of memories of the 70s and 80s HiFi, which was the best, IMO. Thanks. p.s. the volume transition is about right, probably okay 👍 Sorry if I insulted you. I didn't mean to.
I picked one of these up over a year ago. It was sitting in a basement for almost 20 years. And it was just a good cleaning of all controls brought it back to life. I really like this unit. I have been a Technics fan since my very first hi-fi setup as a 16yo in '77. I currently buy/restore/sell vintage. I currently own 2 600's, (one a dark face). I've owned a 200 for almost 30 years and sold it when I got the 800. I also have a 5270 (was my first receiver).
I currently have 2 700's. One working and needing cabinet restoration. And one not working, that I will get going soon. I've also had through my bench a 300, 400, and 500. As well as 5070, 5470 and 5570. For some reason, most don't give Technics the same respect as "other" brands. Doesn't upset me. Just means we can get good deals on these Technics units. I just found StereoNiche and subscribed. Thanks for your review of this wonderful unit.
Thanks for watching. May be a location issue. I have simply not run across many Technics receivers over the years. Turntables? Everywhere, they certainly dominated that segment.
@@stereoniche I'm in PA and Technics was a very popular brand in this area. Just as much as Pioneer back in the 70's. I just finished a "National" Technics. They were sold in Europe and other parts of the world. Where we have Technics by Panasonic, these are National Technics. Cool unit. Has dual voltages.
Scott, your stuff always looks amazing.
Thanks! Of note, I did not show the back of the receiver this time. I took the video, then in editing I realized the original owner etched his SS# in to the back. It was more visible in playback, so I did not want to have that posted.
@@stereoniche Wow, that’s an unusual thing to etch into a receiver. I’m sure he appreciates you not sharing!
@@stevezeidman7224 It actually was quite common in the 70's and prior. Back then, it was thought to deter thieves from stealing things. Not sure how effective, no one obviously thought about identity theft back then, a BIGGER problem. 🙂
I think I've seen a Sansui Eight in the background on previous videos. Could you add that to the review list? Thanks. As far as Technics components I've owned, I had an SA-R100 wall mount stereo. It was an interesting piece.
The Sansui Eight is "in queue". 🙂 But realistically, probably around December at this point.
I have the later 1980 Technics SA 616. I wonder if they did something different with the pots by then....
Good video, I have a Technics SA-200 (the baby in the lineup) and find the build quality nice. You are right about the pots though, they are finicky.
powerful receiver, rare too
I am currently running this receiver with a Pioneer PL-560 and Bose 901 Series ii. Was thinking of selling this receiver and upgrading but not sure what would replace this. I don't have the heart to even put it up for sale yet.
Hey like the channel, i recently picked up a fisher rs 1058 90wpc...was wondering if know anything/thoughts or comparisons about this unit thanks!
Thanks for watching. Fisher fans tend to mostly talk about the tube era models (pre-65), but Asia is quite fond of the early SS models with tuner presets. Later Sanyo era models, "Studio Standard" like the one you have are "typically" not as discussed. There is nothing specifically wrong with them as far as their quality, etc. and they are nicely built units that still have that "silver face" look of other models from the same era. Enjoy!
Very cool that's interesting thanks!
Wish I bought that series. The separate high and low boost looks cool. Had a 5570 and sold it. Sounded lifeless.
Nice, when the pots are clean! :-)
Hey Scott. Thanks for the review on the SA-800. I was lucky enough to pick up a SA-700 about 6 months ago at a Goodwill store for about $25. After cleaning the tape monitor switches it was sounding great. I replaced the lamps which were kind of dim. I agree with you those pots are a real bear to get to for cleaning. Here is a link to my quick restoration video if you are interested. ua-cam.com/video/zJzwR7y1cmY/v-deo.html
What a great score on that 700! Thanks for that link, I will check it out.
Technics was known for using particleboard bottom plates instead of metal like Kenwood, Sansui, Pioneer, and Marantz uses.
Do the higher Technics SA line use a metal bottom? Or the same, cheap particleboard?
The SA-800, at least, has a metal bottom plate.
Hi there , Im working on mine and unfortunately broke the power toggle switch . The switch states , SMK Under Lab INC Snap switch ,Issue L 637 , filp side of the switch SSL81 84 , Im searching online and cannot find the switch , Any help would be Grand ? thank you
At best, you might search AudioKarma to see if there is any reference to a replacement, but other than that, you will need to monitor ebay and hope someone parts out a unit. I would assume other models from the line use the same switch, but I cannot be sure.
Have had my SA-700 since March 10th, 1980. Had it serviced in last few years. Sounds like brand new listening to phono and tapes
An original owner. They are a classic!
I've had many vintage receivers from the 70's over the years, and....I didn't like them. To my ears, the bass sounded excessively boomy due to a lack of damping. It seems like starting in the 80's, manufacturers tightened up on the damping factor, and the bass sounded much more tightly controlled
Puhleez